Nicolas Heller, known as New York Nico, is a NYC content creator and author of "New York Nico’s Guide to NYC." He discusses the crucial role of local businesses and celebrates the city’s unsung heroes, even featuring them on personalized subway cards. Nico reflects on his childhood food memories, highlighting iconic eateries that shaped his love for the city’s culinary scene. He also shares his insights on documenting small business legacies and the nostalgia tied to public events, including humorous anecdotes about bathroom access in the city.
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Childhood Food Memories and First Job
Nicolas Heller grew up near Steak Frites, a restaurant his mother designed logos for, and ate there free through a barter.
His first job at Chat and Chew, obtained via nepotism, ended due to his difficulties with complex orders and serving a child with allergies.
question_answer ANECDOTE
West Village Haunts and The Nico Club
Nicolas Heller frequents Casa Magazines and La Bonbonera in the West Village.
La Bonbonera even named a turkey club sandwich after him, the "Nico Club," featuring freshly carved turkey.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Lettuce Wrap Regret
Despite having a sandwich named after him, Heller regrets a lettuce wrap named after him at Anthony and Son's.
He prefers it with bread and finds it silly to have a lettuce wrap as his namesake dish at a sandwich shop.
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In this guidebook, New York Nico takes readers on a tour of his 100 can’t-miss NYC spots, showcasing the heart and soul of the city through its people. The book includes stories of beloved characters like Henry at Army Navy Bags, Yuval at Liebman’s Deli, Julia serving Sri Lankan food on the Staten Island Ferry, and many others. It functions as a document of the city and its people during a moment of transition, offering a raw and authentic 'locals-only' guide to New York City. The book is beautifully designed and packed with photos and illustrations, making it a celebration of the city’s local legends and urban glory.
Bart Simpson's Guide to Life
A Wee Handbook for the Perplexed
Matt Groening
This book provides supposedly helpful tips and advice on how to cope with life, including dealing with parents, peers, school, romance, health, and manners, all from the perspective of Bart Simpson. Although the advice is humorous and often irreverent, it reflects the character's mischievous personality. The book includes illustrations and has received mixed reviews, with some praising its humor and others finding it too childish or too adult for its intended audience.
Nicolas Heller, better known as New York Nico, calls himself the “unofficial talent scout of New York City” with over 1.5 million fans tuning into his Instagram for colorful profiles of a city in flux. He recently published the book New York Nico’s Guide to NYC which is a true insider’s guide to beloved community businesses across the five boroughs, from 200-year-old bars to new-school pizza spots. Nico says it’s not really a guidebook, but a documentation of a city in transition. It’s great having him into the studio to discuss some of his favorite places.
This Is TASTE 
